I can talk about the current conflict in Southern Lebanon/Northern Israel, but what's the point. Hezbollah and the Israeli government obviously haven't been reading my blog. So I want to turn my attention to something else that has cropped up during the conflict.
With the number of foreign nationals in the area trying to leave, seeking their governments' help to do so, I wanted to discuss something my partner brought up last night, dual citizenship.
It has been reported that up to 30,000 people with Canadian citizenship have registered with the Canadian embassy to be evacuated. Apparently, the majority are people that were born in Lebanon, had moved to Canada to escape conflict, then decided to return after they had achieved Canadian citizenship, without renouncing their Lebanese citizenship. The result? Dual citizenship. Some of these people have reportedly returned to Lebanon as many as ten or more years ago. The question is: should the Canadian government take responsibility for evacuating those with dual Canadian/Lebanese citizens, that have established a permanent residence in Lebanon?
The Citizen and Immigration Canada website has outlined the advantages and disadvantages of dual citizenship, so I won't get into that. But the website does bring up an interesting point. As a citizen of another country, you are subject to the other country's laws, even if they are in conflict with Canadian laws, and they may even take precedence over those laws. Case in point is mandatory military service. The website even points out that if a Canadian citizen has dual citizenship and has a permanent residence in Canada, that the other country could potentially come to Canada and collect that person for military service!
Now back to my original question. Obviously, these people in Lebanon with dual citizenship are taking advantage of their Canadian status to leave a war zone. The Canadian government is facing difficulty evacuating these people because of the numbers, in comparison to other countries. Canada also has a problem with respect to equipment availability (i.e. the military capability), but that's for another post. For the lucky few, some are being accepted by other countries on their ships, such as the British, Dutch and Italian ones, sent to the area. So, should the Canadian government (or any other government, for that matter) go through extraordinary measures to evacuate those that have dual citizenship, but have established permanent residency in Lebanon.
I think there can only be one answer to this. A resounding YES. The Canadian government, and indeed any government, that establishes a policy of accepting dual citizenship, also accepts the responsibility to those citizens, with the same responsibility it shows towards Canadians without dual citizenship. The Canadian government must go through extraordinary measures to protect its citizens, especially in the case of evacuating civilians from what is in effect, a war zone, at whatever the cost (which apparently they are doing, and it was mentioned that the cost will be quite high, according to one news report). From the news reports I've seen, I will go one step further and state that Canada should have contingency plans in place to accomplish just such a task. Not only should Canada have plans to evacuate its citizens from war zones, but from disaster areas, such as we saw from the tsunami that flooded Southeast Asia a year and a half ago. If that means having more military ships and aircraft, so be it. Canada has a set policy, they must not abrogate their responsibilities to their citizens. Canada is getting closer to its military capability needs by ordering new military ships and aircraft recently, after years of Liberal neglect under Mr. Chretien, but it will be a couple of years before the new capability will enter the Canadian military inventory.
Canada has a stated policy of allowing dual citizenship. Unless it rescinds that policy, it must protect everyone that has a valid Canadian citizenship, regardless of how many other citizenships they may possess, and wherever they may be living, whether it's temporarily or permanent.
As a side note, I would like to applaud the other countries that have sent ships to evacuate their own citizens, and accepting people from other countries, including Canadians, on their ships because they had the space. This is a case of countries, regardless of differences they may have, working together to protect each other's citizens. The caveat is that evacuees may have forged passports, so embassies need to work together to ensure people with ulterior motives do not use this opportunity to gain an advantage they would not otherwise have. That would include terrorists posing as Canadian citizens, leaving the area to set up shop elsewhere.
Let us hope that the foreign citizens trapped in Lebanon get out soon, safely. And with the help of many countries, that will happen.
Wings Over The World
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3 comments:
I'm sorry, but I think if you have decided to become a Canadian, so you can use our land, schools, hospitals and social services, then you should live here at least 6 months per year as it use to be. Otherwise you lose your Canadian citizenship. It's NOT something you come here and get so you can abuse it whenever it suits you. We should not allow people to use us as we have been doing. We need to help our people who are living here that need help not people who only took out citizenship as a buffer because they were planning all along on moving back into a war zone.
I think it SUCKS that we have a bunch of bleeding hearts who think we should bend over backwards and help everyone in the world except our own who live and are doing their best to survive here. Lets start helping Canada First.
You make a good point. I can only assume from your comment that you mean that there are Canadians living in Canada that require help, such as the homeless, for example. You're right, they do need help. There are people and organizations throughout Canada that assist the homeless, abused families, and children without parents, but there is always room to do more.
However, may I remind you that these people in Lebanon that are being evacuated by the Canadian government ARE Canadians. Therefore, to use your own words, the government is bending over backwards to help "Canada First," i.e. these people with Canadian citizenship. The evacuees in Lebanon are not abusing the system, as you assert. They are exercising a privilege given to them by the Canadian government.
If you disagree with Canada's policy of dual citizenship, and you truly want to be heard, then I suggest you make it known to your MP. You can even write the Prime Minister directly at pm@pm.gc.ca, or if you prefer by mail or fax, you can get his contact info at www.pm.gc.ca.
I do want to leave you with a thought. I assume from your post that you were born in Canada. What if one day, you retire and decide to live in say, Elbonia (not a real place) and have lived there for three years. And the Redneckians (not real people) attack the country and you want to get out. Under the rules you suggest, you're no longer a Canadian citizen, therefore the Canadian government has no obligation to save you. Furthermore, since you would no longer be a Canadian citizen, you wouldn't be receiving that Canada Pension cheque anymore. Interesting scenario, isn't it?
You can't have two levels of citizenship. What applies to those that come to Canada and gain citizenship, also applies to those that are born in Canada. Something to consider.
After having said all of this, I can only ask, what have you done lately to put "Canada First?"
It is rediculous to think about the dual citizenship and almost 50 people everyday being slaughtered. Which is more important the human being soul or the money? What a shame!! It is so selfish to talk about the benefits now. I am a lebanese canadian and luckily I returned back Canada before that craps happened. I am obliged to go there every year because my parents live there, and many people like me. I enjoyed my vacation there, and I will go there absolutely next year. It is the duty of my canadian government to bring me here when I am in danger. We work very hard here, and we pay a lot of taxes which benefit the whole canadian society. I believe that everyone of those canadians that are living outside fulfilling their duties by respecting the canadian laws and paying their taxes which are a lot of money every year. We do our duties, and the governement did its duty towards its citizens. That is fair enough.
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